None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Recovery after spinal cord injury can be potentiated by repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) of the brain. Current rTMS protocols use high stimulation intensities, which can cause discomfort, limit the application duration of rTMS and might cause unwanted stimulation of deeper brain areas. Preclinical work from our group has shown that low-intensity rTMS can induce plastic changes. In the current proposal we will test the safety and feasibility of a stimulation protocol mimicking that used in our preclinical work, and measure outcomes using robotics and neurophysiology.
Interventions
We will use rTMS at a frequency of 10HZ for up to 1800 pulses. The rTMS can either have a low intensity, a per-threshold intensity or can be a sham rTMS.
TMS will be delivered by a researcher experienced with this technique.
rTMS will be delivered on an individual basis. Participants will receive 6 sessions of rTMS separated by at least 1 week (twice HI, LI and sham). After and before one session participants will undergo behavioural testing, after the second session participants will undergo a
We will use rTMS at a frequency of 10HZ for up to 1800 pulses. The rTMS can either have a low intensity, a per-threshold intensity or can be a sham rTMS. TMS will be delivered by a researcher experienced with this technique. rTMS will be delivered on an individual basis. Participants will receive 6 sessions of rTMS separated by at least 1 week (twice HI, LI and sham). After and before one session participants will undergo behavioural testing, after the second session participants will undergo a neurophysiological assessment. Session order is randomised. Before the start of the study participants will come in for a screening visit. Experiments will be conducted at Edith Cowan University in Joondalup, WA.
Sponsors
Dr. Onno van der Groen
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Crossover
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Blinded (masking used) (Subject)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
Minimum 18 years of age Chronic stage (>1 year post-injury) Cervical injury level Traumatic lesion Residual upper limb motor deficit with muscle weakness No joint-related limitation of passive range of movement of the elbow Presence of MEPs in the arm (assessed during the first visit) Able to read and understand English
Exclusion criteria
Evidence of trauma-related brain injury Pre-injury neurological condition affecting motor or sensory systems Contraindications for TMS Medically unstable
Outcome results
None listed